Threet shows moxie in Michigan's comeback victory

by
John Heuser | The Ann Arbor News

Saturday September 27, 2008, 11:14 PM

Alan Warren | The Ann Arbor NewsSteven Threet gets congratulated by Michael Phelps and Mike Hart on the sideline near the end of the Wisconsin game at Michigan Stadium on Saturday, September 27, 2008. Michigan won the game 27-25.

Steven Threet's first half against the ninth-ranked University of Wisconsin football team was forgettable. His second-half recovery was something Michigan fans will never forget.

After throwing two interceptions, losing a fumble and completing 2 of 10 passes for minus-7 yards through two quarters, Michigan's redshirt freshman led the Wolverines to the biggest comeback in the history of Michigan Stadium.

For Threet, the first half was a bad combination of off-target throws and turnovers. In the second half, he protected the football and completed enough throws (10 of 21, with a touchdown) to carve into a 19-0 deficit. He also showed a burst of speed on the ground, taking off for 58 yards on a designed run play, and finished with a team-leading 89 rushing yards.

The result for Michigan was a 27-25 victory that evened the team's record at 2-2 overall, and put the Wolverines at 1-0 in the Big Ten.

"You know, Steve is getting better," Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said. "But in the first half, he pressed it a little bit and didn't make as many good decisions as he's accustomed to. But he hung in there and he did a nice job in the second half. He made a couple of nice plays and a couple of nice throws. When you get the rhythm, it perpetuates itself."

Threet, who split time with redshirt sophomore Nick Sheridan earlier this season, said he didn't think about whether he would be replaced after he struggled in the first half.

"That's something you gotta kind of let not get in your head," Threet said. "If you're worried about that you can't be worried about the play. There's enough to deal with each play."

On one crucial second-half play, Threet threw a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle to freshman tight end Kevin Koger for Michigan's first score. After that, the Wolverines scored on a run by back Brandon Minor, an interception return by linebacker John Thompson and a run by back Sam McGuffie.

"I knew our offense was capable," linebacker Jonas Mouton said. "We practice against them day in and day out. They just weren't clicking in the first half. Then when they picked it up, it was like OK. This is what it looks like."

It's an offense that Michigan hopes to keep developing, with Threet filling the quarterback role the way he did in the second half against Wisconsin.

"He's our best one. I think he's proven that in practice, he's proven that in games," Rodriguez said. "Steve knew what he was doing, as far as the decisions go. There were some technical things ... he had to just relax and hit some passes."

"Moxie" is a great way to describe this kid. He's fighting his butt off to be this team's leader. When he took off on that 10+ yd run in the first half when he got separated from that ball .... when I saw the replay, I thought his knee was blown out. I cannot believe he didn't get hurt on that play.

He just may have shown the 10 men looking through the bars of their cage, (facemask) in that huddle, that he's the leader until further notice!!!
Keep up the great work Steve.

Also, hats off to a great job being turned in by Greg Frey the O-line coach. He's done a great job patching all these guys together, and notice how few sacks, and/or holding calls. A wonderful by-product of 'coached' concentration and significant conditioning that they aren't grabbing cloth late in the games. Bully for you Frey & Barwis.

Well said. The kids really came together as a team yesterday. They and we should have a bright future. If we can eliminate the 5+ turnovers per game I think we can win some games we have been told we have no chance to win. GO BLUE

Threet not only showed moxie, he showed that even though his talents and abilities are more suited for a pro-style offense, he is able to adapt and do what it takes to get the job done, which is the sign of a true overcomer. I think the real Steven Threet stood up in the second half, although he was still the real Steven Threet in the first half too in that he showed his inexperience. I think the thing that helped his confidence the most was when Coach Rodriguez didn't take him out. The difference was that he was playing to win in the 2nd hslf instead of not to lose, which can make all the difference in the world for a person's confidence.

that Read Option run was awesome... too many times i KNOW the defense is keying in on the RB because they figured that Threet wouldnt keep the ball. I would love to see him keep it more often just to give the Defenses a different look, even if its for a 2/3 yard gain they would know they have to pay attention to him.